r o 

3S35- 






8 










.A 



o" ^ ^ 






.0' 






^- V^ 






« 



,A^ 






.oq 



%^' 



o^ ^^ • ". 'c- ^' ■ 

iT' ■!- a 'A " -P 






.^^ 



,v' 



<• - ^ , ^ ■* A 






' * ■-% 



"^-^^ 



.0 



^// *«' *'\y 





















.■\ 









0^ s 















./ 



"^s"^ 



o 






, . , .... 






* ,\v •J*- 


















?5 -v 















cP' 






■7-'/ V'J - v- X 1 



"ci-. 






:/, 


















^00^ 



-/- ♦ » 1 \ 









i 



Jj^JreAtn of ,J^_)iie!t[ns 

Qarl ^Rryanfpaybum 



i> 




A DREAM 0/ DREAMS 
THE CHARGE & 
OTHER POEMS 

CARL BRYAN RAYBURN 




1920 

HARR WAGNER PUBLISHING CO. 

SAN FRANCISCO 

CALIFORNIA 






K-^ 



Copyright by 

Carl Bryan Rayburn 

1920 



(Q)a!.A571846 

AUG -2 1320 



^\D 



I 



To the sacred memory of my 

mOTHE% 

this 'volume is dedicated 



Dinuba, California, 

December $o, igig. 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Foreword v 

A Dream of Dreams 6 

The Charge 15 

The Music Everlasting 25 

Under the Stars and Stripes .... 26 

The Dixie Volunteer .27 

The Night 29 

The Wintry Night 30 

Spring 31 

To a River 32 

Night in the Hills 34 

The Violin's Lament 35 

The Angel of Dream 36 

Music in the Night 37 

Liladore 39 

The Solitude of Willow Valley .... 40 

Estanalee 42 

Eternity Bids Thee to Never Forget . . 43 

SONNETS 

To Memory 44 

To the Whippoorwill 45 

To Solitude 45 

To the Dove 46 

Beauty 46 

Sylvinia 47 

A Puzzle 48 

Upon Thy Bank, O Gentle Stream ... 49 

A Song That Father Used to Sing ... 50 

Ye Hills and Cliffs 51 

When Parting From a Friend .... 52 

Requiescat 53 

Psalm the Eighth .54 

Love and Fame 55 

The Trail of the Yukon 57 

The Lake at Night 60 

The Desert's Call 63 

L'Envoi 65 



FOREWORD 

•TTT'HESE poems are published ver- 
\iJ batim, without modification from 
the original compositions, which were 
written in the days of boyhood and 
early youth; and, though there is 
much room for improvement in many 
instances, they are submitted to the 
public with the hope that they will 
not be too severely censured for what- 
ever poetic violations may appear. 
Should a few distant and scattered 
friends find even a single pleasure in 
these verses, I shall be happy and 
grateful. 

THE AUTHOR. 



A DREAM o/DREAMS, The CHARGE 
oAnd OTHER POEMS 



A Dream of Dreams 

Fond Muse of Life! if thou couldst sing 

In sweet accordance with my dream, 
Then would thy tuneful numbers cling 
Unto a fair, enchanted stream 
Which now reflects a fading beam 
Of days that vanished with the spring. 
What, then, undying Hope, can bring 
Boyhood, when all was most divine, 
And nothing of the world was mine? 
What can these pleasures half restore 
Except a dream of days before ? 
Then, spirit of a higher clime. 

Ascending on unweighted wings. 
When thou hast flown to heights sublime, 

Send down a picture of the things 
That wakened Infancy's pure dreams 
Which slumber by the crystal streams. 

What though old, dull Reality, 

Realizing only that which is, 
Know not the things that ought to be, 

In dreams yet Fancy finds a bliss ; 
For still that brightest fire of fire 
Will in the darkest gloom inspire 
The soul, which fain would fall asleep 
Upon the billows of the Deep, 
Were it not for that flame divine. 
Which gazers of Chaldean line 
Beheld within the silent skies. 
Where Light celestial never dies. 
For who has never watched the glow, 



6 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

As dreamers of old Eyraco, 
Of sleepy stars, and hear the call 
Of deeper meaning, which will fall 
Across the silence of the spheres. 
And move the sensitive soul to tears? 

Dream of Life ! thou art my own. 
Crowned on a sempiternal throne: 
That magic halo cannot fade — 

Of endless glory it was made ! 

1 would not try to picture what 
The poets call angelic thought; 
Yet once within a vision rare. 

The form of Beauty sweet and fair, 
Clothed in a radiant loveliness. 
Surpassing in sad gracefulness, 
I faintly saw; — and Nature wild 
Gave back her image to a child. 
But — thoughts of sadness stealing on 

With sadder memories of the years. 
And childish yearnings having gone 

Into a misty past of tears — 
I saw a look in Beauty's eye 
That made me tremble ; and the sky 
Gave signs that far away a cloud 
Had o'er a mountain summit bowed. 

Then Melancholy, brooding low 
Beneath the zenith of a star 
Whose silvery splendor shone afar, 
Half hid the pale, intenser glow 
That shone in shrouded space the while ; 
And cast a shadow o'er the smile 
Of weeping Beauty, on whose face 
A look of sadness I could trace. 
And, standing in the stilly Night, 
And gazing at the lonely light, 
I felt that every hour of pain 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Must leave the soul to peace again, 
That all the days of perfect bliss 
A sigh of sorrow never miss ; — 
For e'en the sweetest Lydian lays, 
Arising from the sylvan streams. 
And filled with notes of fairy dreams. 
Oft breathe of dark and dismal days. 

From out the solitudes there came 
A breath of music; who can name 
Such mystic notes that softly swell 
On fading twilight, there to dwell 
In deep, heart-rending, fatal sounds. 
Invading Music's sacred bounds? 
That music fell upon my soul 

In strange emotion, in which pain 
Of all forgotten years that roll 

Was mingled with delight again. 
And in the years I grew to love 
The voice of Music, and to rove — 
To listen — hunger for the breath 
That lulled the silence into death : — 
The dreamy "music of the spheres" 
Moved Nature to her morning tears ! 

In Nature's kingdom first I found 

A freedom which defied restraint. 
And, wand'ring in the wilds around, 

I saw the fading twilight paint 

Immortal glory of a saint. 
Whose lofty brow the stars soon crowned; 

And then I heard a calling faint — 
It came not from this lowly ground — 

But from the sunset's golden taint 
It drifted in a meaning sound. 

Upon me came a rapture quaint ; 

But, ah! I answered in complaint, 
And soon the gentle voice was drowned! 



8 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Formosus Munus! but to see 
A glimpse of vast Eternity 
Is to behold an awful space, 
On which Time leaves no tiny trace ; — 
And yet my spirit, young and proud, 
And wand'ring like an aimless cloud, 
Once dared to roam the darkness through 
And feel Death's ever-falling dew. 
But,- -though the shadows grim are there, 
And fear dwells in the gloomy air, 
There is a Place, a great Beyond, 
On which a shade has never dawned, 
To which the sinless soul may fly 
Beneath the everlasting Sky, — 
Then, as my heart was filled with fear, 
And strange, abysmal mist was near, 
My spirit shuddered — fainted — fell 
Back to a smiling, earthly dell. 

And in that vale, when morning fell, 
A murmuring melodj^ did swell. 
And tune the merry, wanton bird 
Which o'er the waking valley whirred ; 

And in the tinkle of a bell 

Which in the pasture near was heard. 
To me there came a happy thrill — 
And life was full and sweeter still — 
The morning praises filled the air — 
And Nature was so strangely fair — 

The while I stood and listened, till 

It seemed a Paradise were there ! 

And when the countless stars of Night, 
Those timid sparks of Heaven's fire, 
Within the midnight silence shone, 
The pensive twinkling of their light 
Brought to my soul a sad desire 
To climb up to the mountains' throne ; 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

And there forever sit, and gaze 
Upon the weird, golden haze, — 
There on the summit dream away, 
In soHtude, both night and day. 
But, when the mystic moon had bowed 
Above a lone, horizon cloud. 

Increasing, as she higher rose, 
The pearly splendor of her beams 
Along the haunted banks of streams, 

'Twas then instinctively I chose. 
From other things which then v/ere mine, 
The pathos of a thought divine. 

The mumiuring music of the showers 
Descending from the closing flowers, 
Within a cottage once I heard 
That lonesome rhythm, which no word 
Can half suggest; and to my heart, 
As if it were my only part. 

The dismal dropping of the rain 
Upon the dripping roof again 
Sent something of a sweeter pain. 
Then, list'ning to the drowsy sound, 
By dreamy Slumber I was bound, 
Who passed before my watchful eyes 
Fair pictures of the azure skies — 
And all the while I vainly tried 
To hear the falling rain outside ! 

When but a child, I early read 
Of poets' visions of the Dead, 
Their good description of a time 
When to the soul, like theirs, sublime, 
A shining angel comes to guide 
The spirit o'er the Stygian tide. 
And, then, I thought, within the tomb 
There is a glory in the gloom: 
"0 Death, where is thy victory? 



10 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Grave, where is thy stain?" 
The sinless spirit soon shall see 

The smile of God again! 
What though the drifted, wintry snow 
Keep white the nameless mound below, 
The soul can never, God, I know, 
Hear chilly winds that rage and blow ; 
Nor will it feel, in sacred trust. 
The dreamless silence of the dust. 
But, fort una Mors! thou art 
Not ruler of the human heart. 

For Love will conquer in the End, 

And is the very breath of Life ; 
And Truth and Honor shall ascend 

In triumph o'er this mortal strife, 
To bear the soul of noble aim 
To justice and eternal fame. 
And on the waters of the Deep, 

Where Wrong assails the crossing soul, 
Behold ! the billows fall asleep 

And on the surface cease to roll. 
If Love but speak a word of cheer, 
Or smile in lasting brightness near. 
Immortal Love ! Creation kneels 

Before thy white, eternal throne ; 
The humble spirit nobly feels 

Desire to live for thee alone ! 

The rising splendor of the day 
Shed dewy fragrance o'er the way ; 
The gentle sighing of the breeze 
Was heard among the forest trees ; 
The streamlet, gliding slowly by, 
Gave back the color of the sky ; 
Somewhere within the hidden bowers 
Then woke the lovely, blooming flowers ; 
A sweet effulgence filled the air 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 11 

And made the dome of heavens fair ; 
And Nature, glorious in her hue, 
Into surpassing beauty grew; — 
And that was all — but yet a thrill 
Gave life to valley, viale, and hill ! 
That magic thrill glad Nature felt, 
And in a solemn worship knelt, — 
Ah! was it Love, from Heaven sent. 
That such a mighty rapture lent 
To Earth? O God of all divine! 
That love, I thought, was even mine ! 

And when the raging storm was nigh, 

And darkness covered all the sky, 

I watched the lightning flame and flash ; 

While came the thunder's distant crash 

Which rolled in rumbling echoes far, 

Like tumult of a fearful war. 

And when the quivering light was cast, 

And deeper still the thunder rolled. 
My spirit rose upon the blast 

Which all the trembling skies patroled ; — 
In such a restless spirit might 
Derive a battle-fierce delight. 
And learn to lose is but to win — 
In such my spirit reveled in. 

Perhaps within the kingly mind 

The youthful passions never dwell, 
Nor in relentless power bind 

Great souls in Heaven — or in Hell ; 
But yet such passions, as are strong 

And dominating o'er the will. 
Will rarely lead the soul to wrong 

Against its earnest efforts still. 
Then, Heaven, wilt though vindicate 
The stem decrees of heartless Fate? 



12 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

For I, when but a sinless child, 
Knew something of the passions wild; 
Then, even then, within my breast 
There throbbed a fanciful unrest, 
A longing for mysterious things 
Which hovered near on phantom wings ; 
1 felt Ambition's first desire 
To climb, beneath that ethereal fire, 
To higher regions, and to feel 
Eternal glory round me steal ! 
And then I felt, I know not how, 
That bitter sweetness more than now: 
The history of a thousand years 
Came o'er me like a flood of tears ; 
And memories I had known before 
Above me seemed to lightly soar ; — 
Then, like the weeping willow's sigh. 
My foolish dreams were passing by. 

Who would exchange the days of Youth, 
Life's golden, cloudless summertime. 
For those, when Man is in his prime 

And learns a philosophic truth? 

The Youth is stronger than the Man : 
His thoughts are just, his heart is free, 
His knowledge pure and lofty yet ; 

For when his spotless days began. 
He knew what was and what would be. 
And still his soul with dew was wet! 

The sinful, selfish world must bow 
In shame before his fearless eye ; 
Must know him as he passes by ; — 

There shines a glory on his brow ! 

But, ah ! they pass, those youthful days, 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 13 

And still their faintest memory stays ; 
Then manhood grows into old age, 
When, wise and venerable, the sage 
Rehearses wisdom's favorite theme, 
Or dwells upon some sainted dream. 
Yet, what is Life ? and what is Death ? 
And what that highest passion. Love ? 
Who can its mission here define? 
Or is it something more divine. 
And in its calling far above. 
The mystery of the mortal breath? 
But still Eternity reveals 

An answer on Time's secret page; 
Which fleeting ages will attest 
To be the light of Wisdom's crest. 
And, wondering to himself, the sage 
Half sees the words that Time conceals. 

Then Life is but a dream of dreams. 

And ail its mysticism seems 

A harbinger of what will be 

The part of every destiny. 

And when the evening lights recede 

Behind the shadow of each deed, 

The soul of Man will recognize 

That lesser gloiy, and realize 

That none have ever learned the whole 

Which veils the secrets of the Soul. 

Yet Truth and Beauty are allied 

Above the deep, eternal tide 

To bear Life's victory-emblem, "Love," 

The restless stream of Time above. 

Then in the moments last and gray, 

Thou, Muse of Life, will look away 



14 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Across each summer of the Past, 
Where Memory's hght is dimly cast ; 
The soul will listen to the sounds 
Escaping from the nameless bounds ; 
And Azrael, pausing in his flight, 
Will hesitate on Earth to light. 
Then, Muse of Life ! if thou couldst sing 

In harmony with every dream. 
Then would thy notes of mystery cling 

To Life and Love, which ever seem 
A spell within a golden mist. 
By beams of clouded magic kist. 
But now thy song I hear no more : 
Its tune hath died upon the shore. 
Then, spirit of a higher clime, 

Descending on thy weary wings, 
Forsaking now those heights sublime, 

Reclaim thy picture of the things 
Which in their mystic beauty seem 
To be the vision of Life's dream. 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 15 



The Charge 



The night had passed; and o'er embattled 

hnes 

Of bleeding France the troubled sun 

arose, 

And looked again upon the broken shrines 

Which gave sad proof of War's unfeeling 

woes; 
While in the beauty of Dawn's early 
glows, 
The dews, tears shed by Nature for the 
slain, 
Clung to the lilies by the solemn rows, 
In which slept those who ne'er did wake 
again 
To meet the rushing foe upon the battle-plain. 

Like some grim space of death, the No 
Man's Land 
Between the great, contending armies 
lay; 
Upon one side four lines of trenches 
scanned 
As many more across the fatal way. 
Whose soil had crimson grown in fright- 
ful fray. 
Far, far behind, the mighty cannon stood; 
And fresh battalions, brought up for the 
day. 
Concealed themselves within the haunted 
wood, 
Whose dying leaves were stained with fallen 
heroes' blood. 



16 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

A firing line four hundred miles in length ! 

Ten million men in Battle's grand array ! 

Grim nations, clad in War's divided 

strength, 

The mighty conflict wage thru night and 

day! 
Two flaming fronts the long advance 
delay ; 
While over all the long-winged monsters 
soar 
In aerial skirmish, as adown the way, 
Thru dizzy heights, some plunge to rise 
no more; 
And rolls afar and near the cannons' heavy 
roar ! 

Ye sons of Freedom, turn, and gaze upon 
The desolated miles that westward lie : 
The fruitful fields and happy homes are 
gone. 
And naught but devastation meets the 

eye! 
Beneath the haunting horrors of the sky, 
The shattered towns of France and Bel- 
gium tell 
Of bloody hosts that marched in tri- 
umph by ; 
The ravaged plains, where church and 
castle fell, 
Bear witness of the crimes dark as the depths 
of Hell! 

Then, for the sake of sweet humanity. 
For sacred rights secured in other years, 

For God who granted us our liberty. 
For Belgium's slain and mothers' holy 
tears, 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 17 

Strike hard the foe, dark Tyranny, who 
sneers. 
With armored smile and dripping hands, 
at Right. 
And courage take; for now the crisis 
nears : 
Fresh from their victory of the recent fight, 
The German-Austrian guns howl in a red 
delight. 

Now all is ready for the Allies' charge ; 

Expectant now the eager soldiers wait, 
And, though they know opposing odds are 
large. 
They fear not either battle or its fate. 
Now for a while the shell and bomb abate 
Their warning crash ; four sectors now are 
tense 
With sudden silence ; and yet hesitate 
The smaller guns along the first defense, 
Where upward drifts the smoke as if it were 
incense. 

Now all the rear shakes with a sudden 
roar — 
It is the signal, soon another blast 
Breaks on the air as sullen as before; 
The nearer guns begin their firing fast. 
Above the hostile trenches now is cast 
A fitful cloud of shattered earth and 
smoke ; 
A thunderous boom, more frightful than 
the last, 
Rolls from behind the enemy lines ; a cloak 
Of flame shows where their heavy field artil- 
lery spoke. 



18 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Leap from the trenches now the waiting 
men, 
Eight thousand to each nation on that 
side. 
Well armed, they hurry, run, and fire, and 
then 
Drop down a moment where they best 

can hide; 
Then up and onward; for a region wide 
Still parts them from the distant trenches, 
where 
A battery, blushing in undaunted pride, 
Repeats its warning in an angry glare. 
Which flames up redder still and warms the 
foggy air. 

The raiders hurry on ; the columns blaze 
With rifle fire along the rushing lines ; 
The rockets high within the heavens glaze 
A ghostly streak which for a moment 

shines ; 
While every airy current sadly whines 
A fatal song; and now the dropping shells 
Begin to burst and leave their scarlet 
signs; 
Of planes above the bomb's explosion tells ; 
Now falls a whole brigade, the din of battle 
swells ! 

The charge is on! Beneath the flag they 
love, 
The Yankee lads are plunging thru the 
storm; 
In splendor bright Old Glory waves above 
A host that scorns the danger and alarm ! 
Undaunted youths ! their fearless hearts 
are warm 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 19 

With battle-rage: the struggle fierce they 
lead 
To hotter strife, in which they bravely 
form 
To fight for Justice ; and each daring deed 
Commends to God above the wounded ones 
that bleed. 

The conflict having desperate grown, now 
surge 
The human billov/s of the charging mass ; 
O'er broken land the staggering lines 
emerge, 
Some lost within the shelter of a pass. 
The Teuton fire is scorching them, alas ! 
The sun is hidden by the lightning-cloud. 
Where fly the bolts of steel and iron and 
brass ; — 
The armored cars and stubborn tanks have 
plowed 
The way thru jagged wire — more speed is 
now allowed. 

At last the No Man's Land is crossed: a 
deep 
And shattered remnant of a trench is 
found ; 
Great heaps of grey, some dead in bloody 
sleep. 
Lie scattered in the passage under- 
ground. 
No time to lose! behind yon trembling 
mound. 
The second trench, fomiidable and grim, 
Is shaken with the cannons' quick 
rebound ; 



20 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

On with the charge ! The Hght is growing 
dim! 
Machine-gun bullets hum a stirring battle- 
hymn! 

So toward the next embankments now they 
press ; 
Again the network of entangled wire 
Delays the stricken front; in loud distress 
The shrapnel howls above the thirsty 

fire. 
Now for a while the charging arms re- 
tire; 
And swift the foe comes rushing o'er the 
top! 
Have at 'em, boys! their helmets but 
inspire 
Each manly breast their countercharge to 
stop! 
Before the rifle range a thousand comrades 
drop! 

The charge is on! The heavens rock and 
reel! 
The earth is trembling with the mighty 
blast! 
The bursting clouds of flaming smoke con- 
ceal 
The reeking holes filled with the dead at 

last! 
Long lights of streaming colors now are 
cast 
In blazing beauty where the banners soar! 
And ere the shells' combustion deep is 
past, 
Like thunder booms the bombs' tremen- 
dous roar; 
And still the tempest sweeps above, behind, 
before ! 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 21 

On with the charge ! They yell in foaming 

rage ! 

Here fellows fall without another breath ; 

There hand to hand the struggle fierce they 

wage; 

The ground is broken by the shock of 

Death ! 
Ho! giving way the dreadful charge be- 
neath, 
The enemy is falling back ; their dead 

Left lying under clouds of gory wreath. 
The second trench is taken ; but ahead 
Two lines of trenches still speak out their 
challenge red. 

Then on again ; for Freedom leads the way, 
And Courage follows close on Valor's 
heels ! 
Ah! many a lad has fallen on this day; 
But yet the note of battle-glory peals 
Upon the blasted air, which half reveals 
The distant cannon by huge motors drawn. 
Each soul again the fighting spirit feels : 
On with the charge! The day is nearly 
gone; 
And rises on the din the cry of "Carry on!" 

The third line trench is taken; and arrive 
Fresh companies from the Allies' distant 
rear. 
Sons of America! 'tis yours to drive 
Those whom your brothers met without 

a fear! 
Avenge your fallen friends and comrades 
dear! 
But lo! no need to rouse these stalwart 
sons: 
With fortitude the flaming trench they 
near, 



22 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Some falling here and there before those 
guns 
That roar and tremble with the anger of the 
Huns. 

The charge is on! The smoke is spurting 
high ; 
Machine-guns rattle in the ditch again; 
The rifles flash, the rockets scale the sky; 
The thunders roll above the leaden rain 
Which falls in pools red with a gory- 
stain. 
Shock follows shock ; swift colors dart and 
stream 
Above the crash that shakes the stricken 
plain ; 
And, where the lights of battle-glory gleam, 
There fades on many an eye Life's last de- 
parting beam. 

Yet on the grim, surviving raiders sweep! 
The sheDs and bullets drown each furious 
yell; 
Upon the banks the last defenders leap 
In greater numbers than the eye can tell ; 
And now the trench is but a surging 
hell: 
Within the flames, they lunge and fire and 
clash. 
Above the din the shouts discordant 
swell, 
Close followed by a far-resounding crash; 
And o'er the ragged trench ten thousand 
Teutons dash. 

But hark ! the tumult now is dying slow, 
And lo ! the smoke is carried far at last ; 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 23 

The crumbling trench has ceased to flame 
and glow, 
The dreadful charge and battle fierce are 

past. 
The weary prisoners, bound together 
fast, 
March slowly where not long ago they 
drew 
The deadly aim, or met the raging blast; 
And where their own imperial banner flew, 
In triumph waves on high the Red and White 
and Blue ! 

fearless lads beneath the Stripes and 
Stars ! 
Sons of the Land predestined to be free ! 
That spirit, which hath won in other wars, 
Here leads you on for grand Democracy, 
Who strikes the chains of base Autoc- 
racy; 
And here, where that despotic force was 
drawn 
To crush the rights of all humanity. 
Across this plain you rushed and followed 
on. 
And made another Chauteau-Thierry or 
Argonne ! 

And here resign your comrades slain to 
God. 
With their bright blood here Freedom 
sets her flame 
Of light undying o'er this sacred sod ; 
And Time records their fair, eternal 

fame. 
Above each grave then breathe the 
precious name, 
And kneel in memory of the one beneath, 



24 A Bream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Who from his home across the waters 
came 
To help defeat the Plan of Nations' Death, 
But who now calmly lies 'neath Glory's battle- 
wreath ! 

Some day, noble Mothers of the dead ! 
Those loving sons up yonder ye shall 
meet. 
Your yearning hearts the most of all have 
bled 
In silent conflict, but not in defeat: 
In lonely hours, when grief and sorrow 
beat 
Against the courage of your tender love. 
Ye conquered then in prayer, God's 
mercy-seat ; 
With bravery, such as only mothers prove, 
Ye trusted all to Him who reigns in peace 
above ! 

The day had passed; and o'er the battle- 
field 
In sorrow gazed the watchful stars of 
Night; 
The scene of charge was thru the mist 
revealed 
Beneath the moon's sad flood of yellow 

hght. 
And yet a glory, sweet and strangely 
bright, 
Shed peerless beauty earth and sky be- 
tween ; 
And soldiers, weary from the bloody 
fight. 
Lay dreaming on that plain of scarlet 
sheen. 
And saw the angel Peace sail o'er a land 
serene ! 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 25 



The Music Everlasting 

A song of sacred feeling 

From somewhere in the night, 
Across the shadows stealing, 

Holds mute the starry light ; 
It rises slow beneath the glow, 

Upon a mystic height. 

Across the waters glancing. 
Above that boundless sea. 

The spirits, lightly dancing. 
Hark to the melody 
Which over vine and tree 

Celestial floats in far-off notes, 
O'er strange Eternity ! 

A soul, without a history, 

The hymn of silence hears ; 
And, feeling all the mystery 

Which gathers from the years, 
In meditation dreaming 

Of fleeting hopes and fears, 
To glory is beseeming 

The silence of the spheres. 

And from the deep, unbroken 

Infinities that roll, 
The depths of Life unspoken, 

That music thrills the soul ; 
And echoes of a token 

From somewhere faintly toll ! 



26 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Under the Stars and Stripes* 

The blast of the bugle is borne by the breeze, 

The echoes are sounding afar; 
And an army, preparing to cross the blue seas, 

Is marching to the music of war. 
Lo! upon the high mountain and over the 
plain 
The columns now sweep into view ; 
And hark ! for the band is now playing that 
strain, 
Three Cheers For The Red, \Vhite, and 
Blue! 

Through the morning's gray light rolls the 
throb of the drum, 

Keeping time to the martial tread ; 
While the peals of the clarion heroically come 

From the hills where old heroes have led ; 
And the pride of our nation, by Liberty blest, 

Now marches, half solemn, half gay — 
Beats the heart of a hero in every breast ! 

Sons of Freedom in battle array ! 

But the flag, v/hich is flauntingly waving 
above, 

That flag of the stripes and the stars. 
Most awakens within us that battle-bom love 

Which declares our true freedom in wars ; 
For the soul of our nation is fervently filled 

With that spirit which never can die. 
And the heart of our nation divinely is 
thrilled 

By that banner which ever shall fly. 



♦Written soon after the declaration of war between the United 
States and Germany. 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 27 

And well may the soldier, who marches away 

In the ranks of the brave and the free, 
Feel the pride and the glory, which with him 
will stay 

'Neath our banner, on land or on sea. 
And through the long ages that yet are to 
come, 

If tyrants that banner defy. 
At the blast of the bugle and roll of the drum, 

Brave freemen will hasten to die ! 



The Dixie Volunteer 

The crimson work of War is done, 

The battle's storm is o'er ; 
But many a brave and gallant son 

Shall see his land no more. 
There Fame's immortal heroes lie 

In Glory's honored grave, 
And Freedom watches, in the sky, 

Above her fallen brave. 

The call to amis cam^e speeding on 

The wings of April breeze. 
While sped the cry at break of dawn 

Across the troubled seas ; 
And ere the bugle's blast had died 

Above the mountaineer, 
Came marching, in his southern pride, 

The Dixie volunteer! 



28 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

In France, across the ocean far, 

He fought in Freedom's name, 
And in the fiercest of the war 

He won eternal fame ; 
For when the dreadful charge was made 

Upon the German ranks. 
He fell, amid the fearful raid, 

Upon the trenches' banks. 

They found him 'neath the stars of night, 

His young blood still and cold; — 
Heroic warrior of the fight! 

His name is not untold : 
Before him lay a wounded Hun, 

Beside another dead. 
Revealing that old Dixie's son 

Was not the first that bled ! 

Somewhere in France he lies in peace, 

Above him is no tomb; 
But never shall the lilies cease 

Around his grave to bloom. 
Nor shall the voices o'er that mound 

Disturb the silent rest 
Of him who sleeps beneath the ground, 

By Victory proudly blest. 

No more he tramps with martial tread 

Toward the struggling lines ; 
Nor does he watch the plane o'erhead. 

Its movements, and its signs; 
No longer in the trench he hears 

The Captain's quick command. 
Amid the battle's thund'ring fears, 

To cross the No Man's Land. 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 29 

No more he dashes o'er the plain 

Of blood and smoke and fire; 
Nor shall the cannons' roar again 

His dauntless soul inspire. 
For in the hallowed space he lies, 

Clothed in a glory proud, 
Whose light has banished from those skies 

Autocracy's low cloud. 

Son of the Dark and Bloody Ground ! 

On old Kentucky's shore 
The call of Freedom shall resound 

Within thine ears no more. 
Thy native hills in mourning shed 

For thee a solemn tear, 
And proudly claim their noblest dead — 

The Dixie volunteer! 

♦ 



The Night 

The golden light hath faded o'er the hill, 

Now silent falls the gath'ring gloom of 
Night, 

The skies are beautiful by starry light; 
And o'er the mist there seems a mystic thrill 

Which fills the soul with music and delight. 
Upon the mountains play the dancing beams, 

The valleys sparkle in their dewy gems, 
While o'er the lake the airy angel dreams, 

And from the fields arise the holy hymns. 
Faint music drifts from out the midnight 
skies ; 

Celestial sounds the melody that floats 
From where the love of Heaven sacred lies, 

Like echoes from the happy angels' notes 
Which from the harps of Heaven softly rise. 
A paradise doth Nature still reveal. 
And giveth us what Life cannot conceal ! 



30 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 



The Wintry Night 

Blow, winds of Winter, blow 

Across the frozen stream and wood 

And field of drifted snow. 

Above the icy gems that glitter 

Beneath the stars' pale glow ; 

Blow, winds of Winter, blow. 

Howl, winds of Winter, howl. 

And break the silence of the night. 

Alone the sheltered owl, 

Somewhere within the dreary distance, 

Bemoans the weather foul ; 

Howl, winds of Winter, howl. 

Wail, winds of Winter, wail 

Around the comers of the house. 

We listen to a tale. 

Or crack the nuts before the fireplace 

And pick them with a nail ; 

Wail, winds of Winter, wail. 

Bring, winds of Winter, bring 
Dim visions from the dreary past 

Of those who once did sing 

On wintry nights when ye were howling. 

Our memories to them cling ; — 

These visions bring, oh, bring! 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 31 

Spring 

From the south, in her love that is shining 

Far across the lone valley and hill, 
Cometh Spring in her gay-colored lining; 

And all Nature is feeling her thrill. 
Gentle breezes around her are sighing 

In a music, like sunshine and rain ; 
And the flowers, that seemed to be dying, 

Are revived by the showers again ! 

The trees in the orchard are blooming, 

The blossoms perfume the pure air. 
And the brooklet, its murmur resuming, 

Flows by lilies that are smiling and fair; 
From the maple and willow the singing 

Of the birds float upon the light breeze — 
How the notes of glad praises are ringing 

O'er the humming and buzzing of bees ! 

In the woods the squirrels are playing, 

And eating the buds on the limb. 
While the sunset winds are delaying 

The whippoorwill's evening hymn ; 
And the shadows, that slowly are filling 

The valley with mystical dreams. 
The deepening silence are thrilling. 

O'er the beautiful, winding streams. 

Spring ! Earth's gay voices are praising 

Thy beauty in melody sweet, 
And the skies, that are silently gazing, 

The echoes would gladly repeat! 
And visible angels are bearing 

The songs to the Father above, 
A sentence of Nature declaring 

Of sunshine and music and love ! 



32 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 



To a River 

Silva, dear river ! 
Upon thy lone bank, 

Where the flowers of silver 
The sunshine has drank, 

1 watch thy deep flowing 

To meadows away. 
Ever coming and going, 

All night and all day, 
Thy waters are singing 

A song sadly sweet ; 
Low music thou'rt bringing: 

Thy murmurs defeat 
The sighing of sadness, 

Its moaning and groan ; — 
Flow, rythm of gladness, 

In a musical tone ! 

Bright diamonds are gleaming, 

Enjeweled in thy wave; 
The moonlight is streaming 

Across thy blue wave; 
And the shore, lightly dreaming, 

Is lulled by thy wave. 
The whippoorwill's singing 

Beneath the tall trees ; 
And the echoes are ringing 

On the wings of the breeze, — 
The breeze which is sighing 

Sad stories of love, — 
Which faintly Is sighing 

From the heavens above. 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 33 



Far clouds o'er thee floating 

Thy waters reveal, 
As in the sky gloating, 

They silently steal. 
Airy spirits above thee 

On celestial waves float, 
And they sail high above thee 

In their white airy boat. 
Ah, here the winged Muses 

Fly ever around, 
While Fancy amuses 

The shadows around; 
And often fond Memory 

Steals from the dim Past, 
Bringing visions — Memory! 

Why can they not last ? 

Silva, wherever 

Thy waters may glide. 
There Beauty forever 

Shall dwell on thy tide; 
And Solitude, seeing 

Her glory divine, 
Is happy in being 

Beneath her sunshine. 
And, Silva, when billows 

Of Life will roll high, 
I'll come to thy willows. 

Beneath the blue sky ; 
And there, as the rapture 

No sadness shall save, 
Sweet music will capture 

The song of thy wave! 



34 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Night in the Hills 

The golden light above the sinking sun 
Has faded o'er the western, summer hill; 
Light breezes play upon the nightly air 
In music low ; and, one by one, the stars 
Now creep into the silent heavens above. 
In silvery light the glowing moon now climbs 
Into the eastern sky, and throws her rays 
Of soft, majestic fire o'er hill and plain. 
Upon the tossing waves of lake and stream, 
And o'er the shadows of still solitude. 
The whippoorwill's far chant is rising from 
The rocky glen and from the gloomy cliff; 
Incessant are the crickets chirping low 
Beneath the hollow log and rotten stump ; 
Along the fence and in the orchard trees. 
In high musical time, the katydids 
Are singing to the ever-list'ning stars; 
From out the thicket comes the chorus of 
The tuneless frogs, upon the water's edge. 
Far, far away the mighty forest lies 
In slumber deep; soft breezes steal between 
The silent trees and sigh their nightly hymn 
In mystic tones; mysterious shadows haunt, 
In ghostly forms, the lone recesses of 
The wild, undaunted, solitary depths 
Of Nature grand. How queenly smiles the 

moon! 
She sends unsparingly her yellow light 
Which warms the happy heart of Nature. 
Nature wild and free ! thy voices sweet 
Are music unsurpassed by band or choir 
O glorious Night ! thy music drifts unto 
The zephyrs, whisp'ring in the airy niist. 
Where Truth and Beauty reign in love divine. 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 35 



The Violet's Lament 

Low, softly, and slowly, upon the night air 
I send my sweet music in melody rare, 

Beneath the starlight, 

The pale, silvery light ; 
And stealing, faint stealing to breezes above, 
My notes are revealing fond stories of love. 

To the breezes they steal ; 

There they faintly reveal 
Their rapture, concealing a passionate love. 
My harmonies rise unto the blue skies, 
Where the light of fair heavens 

So tender lies, — 
Where the love of the angels 

Compassionate lies. 

Ah, the strains, overflowing 
To the stars which are glowing. 
Now musically swell, 
Now rhythmically swell ; 
And the flowers, and green bowers, 
And the vines on the towers. 
All feel a quaint spell, — 
A spell that is ringing, and fitfully bringing 
A melody swinging 
Fantastically, faintly, and far. 



36 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

In the silence of Night, 
When the breezes have died, 

And the voices of Nature are still, 

My melodies flow ; 
And the silence they fill 
With moments that go 
To the heart of the listener. 
Who sits in a dream 
'Neath the stars' silvery gleam, 
And hears the quaint strain 
Of sad notes that seem, 
Like a musical dream, 

To sink to a low 
Impassioned refrain. 
And never again 
My harmonies shall rise unto the blue skies, 
But mournful and slow, 
Faint, sadly, and low. 
My music shall flow 
In a weird refrain 
Which steals to the heart, to never depart. 
In a sad and mystical strain ! 



The Angel of Dream 

The angel of dream, sv/eet angel of dream! 
In dreamland she's a bright fairy 

Who brings a light dream 

Beneath the moonbeam. 

And by the deep stream, 
Where the spirits of slumber do tarry; 

And in the pale light 

Of the mystical night, 
Her visions to us she will carry. 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 87 

In the still summer night, 
When the breezes are sighing 
A song to the lonely trees, 
Comes the maiden of light 
In a rapture undying, 

To dwell in the song of the breeze; 
And the slumber that steals 
O'er the fancy reveals 

The angels of dream in the breeze. 

Forever may 

This maiden fair. 

Pure as the air 
Of blushing May, 
In the peaceful dreamland fly ! 

And the lights, that seem 

To be gleaming in a dream. 
Far within the lonely sky. 

Will send the sweet angel of dream. 



Music in the Night 

When music from the violin 

And from the silver-toned guitar 
Drifts softly on the evening wind. 

Beneath the early, silver star, 
Into our souls faint Echo rolls 

The music far and dying; 
The low notes seem to weave a dream 

Upon the breezes sighing. 
Romantic seem the twinkling light, 
The distant moon, the hush of Night; 
And the silence lightly listens 
To the strain, 



38 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

While the dewy diamond ghstens 
On the grain 
Which golden stand upon the land 

For miles and miles away. 

Low the winds are sighing 

High above; 
Far the notes are dying 

Full of love, 
And then faintly they rise 
To the list'ning skies, 
Where the melody dies, 

Full of love. 

Ah, sweet music has its many nameless 
charms, 

As it tunes the balmy, nightly air ; 
In its voices there is something that informs 

Us of sounds of beauty pure and rare. 

Often as we listen to the tune 
Of a sad and weird song. 
Then forgotten hopes will throng 
With the happiness of birds in June ; 
And once again 
The thrilling strain 
Will lift our souls to where the 
Lord 

Would have them be. 
And music will forever fill 
The space of great Eternity! 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 39 

Liladore 

Blow soft and low, ye gentle winds — steal 

silent o'er that face 
Of her whose spirit far has flown, but left the 

youthful grace; — 
Ah, faintly fan her snow-white brow, ye 

breezes from the sky ; 
For upward through the starry Blue a saintly 

soul did fly! 
Her spirit sweet, on wings so fleet, has flown 

the river Death; 
The flight was short, but dark and swift, — it 

took her precious breath ! 
In Faith's fond ami she peaceful died; in 

Death's mysterious night. 
With angel Hope along her side, she winged 

her happy flight. 
And as she neared the Golden Gate, a band of 

seraphs came 
In radiant flame outside the Gate, and sweetly 

sang her name ; 
Then through the open Gate she sailed, and 

all the Kingdom hailed 
Her as she flew her home into, as o'er the 

streets she sailed. 
Look on her face ! In lovely grace, there lin- 
gers still a smile ! 
Her heart was pure as morning dew ; for her 

there was no trial. 
Ah, toll no bell and roll no knell, but let them 

sflent be ; 
For far above, where angels dwell, her soul is 

singing free ! 
Above the sky her spirit floats where angel 

notes arise ; 
In Heaven high she gently floats where sing- 
ing never dies. 



40 A Dream, of Dreams and Other Poems 

The maiden fair to Aideen there the King 

has called His own, 
Where angels sing and praises ring around 

the mighty Throne. 
She joined that throng, where endless song 

arise in glorious strain. 
And in the bright, celestial light she sings the 

sweet refrain! 
So pure and rare, the one we loved, for Earth 

too sweet and fair. 
Has flown above, where all is love, to breathe 

immortal air. 
She sailed away where shine the gleam and 

beam of golden ray. 
Where ever stream the shining lights of that 

eternal Day. 
Sweet Liladore did lightly soar unto that 

waiting Shore ; — 
heart! grieve not: she's happy and — she's 

gone forevermore! 



The Solitude of Willow Valley 

In the mountains by a sea 

Lies the lonesome Willow Valley. 
There tearfully 
And dismally. 
The breezes from the crystal sea 
O'er the shadows faintly rally, 
And sigh a song 
Forgotten long, — 
A song of melancholy notes ; 

Sad it floats 
O'er the mountain to a fountain, 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 41 

Where it waits, 
And fascinates 
The sohtude of Willow Valley. 
From the fountain flows a river 

Clear and deep; 
And the murmurs of that river 
Lull asleep 
The flowers and trees, 
And the mystic breeze 
Which sighs o'er the river deep. 
And often a strain of rapture and fear 

Steals o'er the evening shadows, 
Like music from a distant sphere, 

And tunes the solitude of Willow Valley. 

At night, when the stars are all shining, 
And the wings of Mystery soar 
The valley o'er, 
Romance, in the shadov/s reclining, 
Tells stories of the future 

And of days that are no more; 
While the moonlight brings 
To the wild, roaming things 

The mystery of Night. 
Through the silvery light, in a strange 
delight. 
Gather the spirits of the summer night. 
And fly in the solitude of Willow Valley. 

Ah, in this valley 

By the sea. 
In the mountain, where the fountain 
Gushes free, 

No people dwell; 
A curious spell 
Ever haunts the valley. 

At day sad songs of music swell in mourn- 
ful tones 



42 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Which hold a note of rapture, 

Mingled with faint moans and groans. 
And that's the reason why no people 

Here can dwell ; 

And even Israfel 

Could not break the mystic spell 
Which haunts the solitude of Willow Valley. 



Estanalee 

In the shadows that linger 

On mountain and sea, 
Far above, a sweet Singer 
Sings faintly and free; 
And the silence with music that dismally 

dwells 
In the wonder of magic, in harmony swells. 

Not of morals and duty 

Estanalee sings; 
But of visions of Beauty 
In lovelier things, — 
Of the smiles that enrapture the beautiful 

day, 
And the mystery that gathers upon the lone 
way. 

In his songs are the trances 

Of spirits that dream 
Where the silvery glances 
Bediamonded gleam, 
As he breathes of the amative splendor of 

Night, 
With its jewels of vapor and mystical light. 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 43 

When tenderly tinkle 
The heavenly bells, 
And tearfully twinkle 
Bright dews in the dells, 
Modest violets, awaking from slumbers of 

love, 
Hear the music celestial faint drifting above. 

Where the sky-lights resemble 

A flashing of flame, 
And the fairies assemble 
To worship his name, 
Estanalee sings his most dreamy-like song; 
While dreams of the midnight all silently 
throng. 

mystical Spirit 

That dwellest alone! 
Could an angel inherit 
Thy musical tone ? 
Ah, well may thy numbers, unrivaled below, 
Through the endless enchantment in melody 
flow! 



Eternity Bids Thee to Never 
Forget 

Eternity bids thee to never forget 

The sorrows and raptures of Love; 
For the spirit that conquers will never regret 

The thorns and the flowers of Love. 
And when the dark shadows of Death fall 
around, 

The thorns' bitter pain will not be, 
And the flowers, that grew in Life's broken 
ground. 

Will eternally blossom for thee ! 



44 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

The mysteries of ages upon thee may fall, 

With their gloom, fascination, delight; 
And the voices of the dead may silently call 

Through the stillness and slumber of 
Night. 
Yet triumph in these can the soul ever find; 

A music will tune the lone heart ; 
And Memory will call to the spirit and mind 

Past visions which never depart. 

Eternity sends thee a message of peace, 

And the hope of it thrills the deep soul ; 
But the mystery it holds will never release 

The future of ages that roll: 
Chaotic and dismal as annals of Death 

Seem the Fates in their mystical sphere ; 
But the soul, when the body is void of its 
breath. 

Shall learn what it longed to know here ! 



Sonnet — To Memory 

Memory, thou art a brilliant light 

Reflecting on the Past with ling'ring gleam ! 

In silence oft thy bright, resplendent beam 
Shines through the lonely darkness of the 

night; 
And o'er the passing years' swift, thought- 
less flight 
Thou throwest far thy tearful rays, until 
The days of childhood rapture seem to fill 

The sleepy Present ; and we softly dream. 
And though the fogs of annals round thee rise 

To make thy light dim in the humid air. 
Thou lightest still the distant, sunny skies 

Of mornings long ago, so fresh and fair. 
Forever shine, sunlight of Man's soul ! 
Him shalt thou bless as ages swiftly roll ! 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 45 

Sonnet — To the Whippoorwill 

Lone Whippooi-will, when o'er the silent vale 
And forest depths the dusky shadows fall, 
'Tis sweet to hear thy far, complaining call 
Resounding from somewhere within the dale. 
While in the west the sunset colors pale. 
Thy notes, sad drifting on the misty gloom 
Which reigns until the flowers of Heaven 
bloom, 
Send out a wistful chanting over all ; 
And he, who listens to thy lonesome song 
Which nightly rises from the rocky glen, 
Must feel the dreams of pensive Fancy 
throng. 
Or Retrospection's thrill of what has been. 
Cease not thy notes, O chanter ; for in them 
Oft steal the sounds of some forgotten hymn ! 



Sonnet — To Solitude 

Within thy sacred realm, Solitude! 

There is a solemn silence pure and deep, 

Where winds of meditation softly sweep 
Across thy mystic throne in thoughtful mood ; 
For never there the social cares intrude. 
But Cometh peace to soothe the weary mind 
Which in thy haven sweet may ever find 

A bliss akin to that of gentle sleep. 
Thy vast domain the home of nature be ; 

Whence visions of the truer worship spring, 
To lead the spirit of the strong to see 

The wealth and glory, which around thee 
cling. 
And there the soul may find a wisdom true. 
The heart may learn what Knowledge never 
knew! 



46 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Sonnet — To the Dove 

When from the topmost limb, O gentle Dove, 
The sighing breezes bear thy cooing low 
Across the waters that beneath thee flow, 
There steals a thrill of pure, contented love 
Within the notes of solemn sounds above; 
And to the lazy loneliness of Spring 
Thy song a drowsy haiTnony doth bring. 

Half mournful, as a strain of joy and woe. 
All other voices heard no more, thy faint 

And distant echoes fill the solitudes, 
Almost suggestive of a meek complaint, 

And yet exultant, like a song that broods 
In tender pathos o'er a lover's dream 
Beside the twilight murmurs of the stream. 



Beauty 

Within the morning sun's bright, golden rays 
The smile is seen of Beauty rare and sweet. 
Her loveliness makes glad the summer days ; 
And shadows of her form the eye doth meet 
Upon the flowery meadow, hill, and sky. 
The wilds of Nature she doth beautify ; 
The winding stream, the valley wide and 

deep. 
The mountain high, the woods where violets 

sleep. 
And seas whose surface billows madly sweep. 
And Beauty, who dwells here and high above. 
With stalwart Truth has ever been in love ; 
With him, she glorifies the solemn Earth. 
The angels, goodness, mercy, peace, and 
mirth, 
Unto fair Beauty bring their flowers of love ! 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 47 

Sylvinia 

In a beautiful vale of Virginia, 

Where the waters of Melody steal, 
Dwells a maiden whose name is Sylvinia, 

Where the mountains the valley conceal. 
And her lovely and mystical beauty 

Is the charm of that valley of Love, 
Where the angels, to keep a high duty. 

Stay the clouds from assembling above. 

Ah ! the smile of Sylvinia is brighter 

Than the glory of Summer's first mom, 
And her fairy-like foi-m is much lighter 

Than the graces the angels adorn; 
And her love, which forever is burning. 

Lights the depths of her innocent eyes. 
As the stars when the night is returning 

To her home in the evening skies. 

And I love that most beautiful maiden : 

She's the queen of my every-day dream ; 
With her glory sweet Nature is laden, 

'Neath the sunlight, star, or moonbeam ! 
But I dare not to tell her I love her ; 

For I fear she would vanish away 
To her home in the skies, and her lover 

Would be sorry and lonely alway. 

Ah ! the love of Sylvinia I cherish ; 

Her deep eyes are the light of my soul ; 
My affection for her could not perish 

Could I live all the ages that roll. 
And the clouds of this life all dissemble 

When her smile of pure rapture I see ; 
But the shadows and gloom reassemble 

When I think she was bom not for me ! 



48 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Oh, if winds to a distance could carry 

A fond message of love that is true, 
I would send to that wonderful f aiiy : — 

Lovely maiden, I'm longing for you ! 
Or if yearning and hoping could bring her 

On a magical plane of the sky, 
Then no longer alone would she linger, 

But to me from that valley would fly. 

my beautiful, charming Sylvinia ! 

In a love that is sacred and deep, 
Now for thee, fairest maid of Virginia, 

Tears of sorrow and sadness I weep. 
And no magic my love can dissever ; 

For my heart you have stolen from me. 
But remember, sweet maiden, if ever 

You return it, you too will mine be! 



A Puzzle 

My distant friend, within this stanza hidden, 

Sacred lies thy name in letters bold. 
Survey the lines ; for, by the muses bidden. 

They artlessly that precious name enfold. 
Though no word of discontent expressing. 

Long you strove in vain the name to find; 
But, alas ! thy grave and earnest guessing 

Never unseals a mystery of this kind. 
And to thee, who motherly guided me 
Patiently through my youthful years, 
I am sending this note with grateful tears. 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 49 



Upon Thy Bank, Gentle Stream 

Upon thy bank, gentle stream, 

Beneath the silent willow, 
I used to lie and softly dream 

On Fancy's peaceful pillow; 
In thought I lay, and dreamed some day 
Thy waves would bear me far away. 

Ah, years and moments far have fled. 

Dear friends are gone forever ; 
Fond Memory steals with silent tread 

To fleeting years, whenever 
Faint breezes o'er thy slumb'ring shore 
In sad tones whisper, "NeveiTnore!" 

Still oft I steal, as o'er the hill 

The light of Day is fleeing. 
To feel the night's mysterious thrill 

That sweeps through all my being; 
And in the light of mystic Night 
Thy waves give back the trembling light. 

Again beside thy gentle flow 

let me ever linger, 
As in the days of long ago 

When Fancy's charming finger 
Would point away, and she would say, 
"These waves shall bear thee far away!" 



50 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

A Song That Father Used to Sing 

A song that father used to sing — 

Ah, sing it soft and low, 
While to my heart sweet memories bring 
The nights of long ago, 

The nights when by the summer vine 
I watched the stars above us shine, 
And listened to that song which rose 
Upon the evening's still repose. 

A song that father used to sing — 

Oh, breathe it lower still ; 
For to this heart that tune will bring 
Those far-off nights, until 

Again I watch the stars' pale gleam. 
And hear, as though I'm in a dream. 
Him singing low that quaint old song 
Which I have heard him sing so long. 

A song that father used to sing — 

Just sing it once for me, 
As from the past the shadows bring 
The starry nights, when he 

Would sing it, looking far away 
As though he longed for some past day ; 
While I would fly on Fancy's wings 
To coming days and future things. 

A song that father used to sing ! 
Ah, through the misty years 
A vision will that song e'er bring. 
With Memory's sighs and tears. 
Then sing it soft and low again — 
And once again beneath that strain, 
There at my father's side I dream 
And watch the stars above us gleam ! 



A Dream, of Dreams and Other Poems 51 

Ye Hills and Cliffs 

Ye hills and cliffs, where nineteen years ago 
I first looked on this valley here below, 
Again I come, a wanderer, to my home. 
Around thy steeps and rugged crags to roam. 
As in those happy childhood days gone bye, 
Once more upon thy rocky summits I 
In silence stand and view the summer scene: 
The noble hills, the stream, the vales serene, 
The endless v/oods that stretch for miles 

away. 
And all the charnis that come with early Day. 

silent hills ! receive a youth who strayed 
Far from these scenes, where often he has 

played, 
W'hose soul is hungry for thy blissful rest, 
Whose heart is longing for thy silence blest. 
Ye hills sublime! I hear a welcome sweet 
Sung by the birds ; the breezes low repeat 
That welcome which is free and makes me 

free ; 
The cow-bells tinkle music dear to me. 
The sheeps' lone bleat awakens memories 

old;— 
Oh, M^hat a joy these sounds of Nature hold! 

Yes, childhood scenes, fond memories awake ! 
The charm of crowded, brilliant streets for- 
sake 
And die within these shades of solitude, 
Where never sin and worldly pride intrude. 
A music, sweeter than in m.usic-hall 
Up to the marble portals white e'er fall. 
In melody now somewhere rises low 
To list'ning ears which all the pauses know; 
A soul unto the songs of Nature flies 
And sings in rapture 'neath the sunny skies. 



52 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Ye hills and cliffs! when tired of wandering 

o'er 
The weary world, from ocean shore to shore, 
On nightly streets, in dazzling halls where 

wealth 
In splendor reign instead of love and health, 
Toward thy wild recesses shall I turn. 
The grace of God and Nature sweet to learn ; 
To dream again the dreams of long ago ; 
To watch the stars of night above me glow ; 
To live again the life of Youth sublime, 
And o'er thy summits high and crags to 

climb ! 



When Parting From A Friend 

When parting from a friend we've known 
For long and many bygone years. 

How dear to us that friend has grown : 
Ah, then will fall the saddest tears! 

Oh, could we and that faithful friend 
A few more days together stay. 

And feel the hearts' warm glows that send 
A light upon Life's cloudy way ! 

Ah, in those solemn moments crowd 
Sweet memories of the happy past. 

When o'er our sunny lives no cloud 
Of grief or pain its shadow cast ; 

And in the silence then we stand 

And dream of days that are no more — 

The time has come : we grasp his hand, 
To journey on the path before. 



A. Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 53 

And often in our hearts we feel 
A longing for that friend so true, 

And often will fond Memory steal 
To us a smile so long we knew ! 

'Tis sad ; but in our souls that love, 
Which first began in other years, 

Will shine, until in Heaven above 

We meet that friend where fall no tears ! 



Requiescat 

Tread softly ; — she is sleeping 

Within this lonely grave! 
Fair lilies, o'er her weeping. 

Above her meekly wave; 
While breezes sigh up in the sky 

For her, whom Beauty gave. 

Not long ago she wandered 

Along this lovely stream. 
And by its muiTnurs pondered 

Beneath the golden beam; 
But now that one, whom Death has won, 

Lies in eternal dream. 

In sweet and mystic slumber, 

Beneath this sacred sod. 
She now is of that number 

Whose spirits are with God ; 
And sorrowing seem the wood and stream, 

Where she in beauty trod. 



54 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Upon this solemn mountain 

In silence sanctified, 
The wavelets of a fountain 

Weep for the maid who died, — 
Who, with fond eyes like magic skies, 

Was once a lover's pride. 

Tread gently; — she is sleeping 

Within this lonely mound ! 
Fair lilies, near her weeping. 

Keep green the hallowed ground ; 
And faintly drear, afar and near, 

The tolling bells resound. 



-^ 



Psalm the Eighth: A Paraphrase 

Lord, our Lord, how gracious is thy name 
In all the earth ! And thou hast set thy flame 
Within the heavens; in babes and sucklings 

hast 
Thou strength ordained, the foe away to cast. 
When I unto thy heavens lift mine eyes 
And view the moon, the stars, their holy 

ray, 
And all thou hast created in the skies, 

Then, deep within, my trembling soul doth 

say: — 
Oh, what is man, whom thou forgettest not. 
And whom thou givest thy most sacred 

thought? 
For him a little lower thou hast made 
Than angels, and upon him thou hast laid 
Glory and honor. Thou didst him create 

To have dominion o'er the work thy hands 
Did form; sheep, oxen, and all beasts that 

mate 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poem^ 55 

In fields, are under him in all the lands ; 
Also the fowl of air, and fish of sea, 
And all that in the depths of ocean be. 
O Lord, our Lord, in whom we have our birth, 
Thy name is excellent throughout the earth ! 



Love and Fame 

The day of the dreary December 
Had fled o'er the snow-covered hill. 
And Night, with her silence and chill, 

Brought the stars, each a distant, pale ember, 
Which glowed in the heavens with chill. 

Not a sound broke the silence, save only 
The owl's far, dull, lonesome ''whoo-whoo" ; 

And oft from his dwelling so lonely 
He complained to the stars of the Blue. 

On that night, on the top of a Mountain 

That rose in the desolate plain, 

In pride of its ancient domain. 
Stood a man by the side of a fountain. 

Which flowed in a tuneful refrain. 
And with him was no friend or companion : 

Alone and all silently there. 
Near the edge of a gloomy, deep canyon. 

He breathed the pure mountainous air. 

Far below lay the long and wide level 
Of the plain in the silence of night, 
Vv^here the spirit Romance, in delight. 

O'er the scene fascinating did revel. 
In the beautiful, mystical light. 

And the moon, in her glory and gleaming. 
Looked on the lone Mountain below. 

And sent her pale, golden light streaming 
On the plain of bediamoned snow. 



56 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Long the man on the Mountain stood thinking 
How the beauty and radiance did seem 
Like the smile of the queen of his Dream; 

His soul deep within him was drinking 
Of the gloiy which on him did stream. 

Yet he wondered v/hy came not his Angel, 
The maid who had promised to be 

His bride on Mount Fame ; but his Angel 
Was not there, as she'd promised to be. 

Then long — oh, how long ! — for the Maiden 
He watched o'er the plain far below, — 
That plain which w^as covered with snow ; 

And his heart grew, then, heavy and laden 
With a feeling of sorrow and woe. 

But he saw not her form of fair beauty, 
Nor her face like the splendor above: — 

She must come — she would come — 'twas her 
duty, 
For she'd promised in the vows of her love ! 

Hark ! he hears a low voice that is singing 

A song like a funeral hymn, — 

It sounds like a funeral hymn ; 
And softly and solemnly ringing, 

It gently is speaking to him : — 
"Thy fair One is dead, fond lover! 

Her spirit has flown far away — 
She has gone to the angels that love her. 

In the light of the Heavenly Day. 

"On this lone and this silent, cold Mountain, 

On this summit the humans call Fame, 
By this canyon and mystical fountain. 

The queen will ne'er change her fair name ! 
The light of her love will, oh, never 

Shine upon this lone summit of fame; 
For thy Angel has gone where, forever, 

Her love is much greater than fame!" 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 67 

Then the night of the dreary December, 
With its silence and sorrow and chill, 

Took the stars, each a distant, cold ember, 
And fled o'er the snow-covered hill. 

Not a sound broke the silence, save only 
The owl's far, dull, lonesome "whoo-whoo"; 

And oft, in his dwelling so lonely. 

He complained to the lights of the Blue, — 
To the winds from the heavens of blue. 

And a man, in the light that was gleaming 

From the sun in the skies high above. 
Came down from the Mountain, and, dream- 
ing, 
Said slowlj^ "All perish, but Love — 
What is fame and all wealth, without 
love?" 



^ 



The Trail of the Yukon 

There's a stream among the mountains 

Of a land that's bleak and cold. 
Where the ice-winds freeze the fountains. 

And the wolf is ever bold. 
And if ever you have wandered 

On the Trail along that stream. 
Why you left it, you have wondered, 

And you see it in your dream. 

Oh, the Trail is white and broken 
By the canyons dark and deep. 

And the only sounds there spoken 
Make the chills across you creep : 

In the distance bears a-growling 
O'er a wretch who went too far. 



58 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Hungry wolves forever howling 

To the silent midnight star. 
Then you listen, fascinated 

By the sounds and scenes around, 
Till you love the land you hated 

When those mountains you first found. 

There is gold deep in the hollow, 

On the mountain side there's fur; 
But the Trail I'd rather follow 

With a rifie and a cur. 
In its silence there's a mysteiy, 

Strong it holds you in its spell ; 
And you feel its dreary history, 

WTiich to others you can't tell. 
And 'tis lonesome when you listen 

In your cabin, ail alone, 
To the silence, see peaks glisten 

Like a distant, desert bone ; 
Then you buckle on your legging, 

Take the rifle from the nail, 
Feed the dog to stop his begging — 

And you hit the frozen Trail. 
Then you strike the Trail that stronger 

Makes the brave heart on its road, 
W^iere the weak can stay no longer 

Than a fishing- v/omi or toad. 

Here you follow by the canyons, 

Through the valley, o'er the peak, 
Never wishing for companions 

As you steal along a creek ; 
And you feel the mountains' glory. 

Seems they give you of their strength, 
As they stand there old and hoary, 

Tall and m.atchless in their length ! 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 69 

Ah, the Trail is calHng, calHng! 

Still it calls me to its track — 
When the leaves begin their falling, 

Guess I'll pack up and go back 
To that Land that's full of danger, 

Where I find a strange delight ; 
Where I meet the howling ranger 

In the darkness of the night. 
There the Yukon's silvery water 

Glistens 'neath the summer sun, 
And the glaciers seem to totter 

At the roaring of a gun. 
But I love that land of wonder, 

And I'm going right away 
To that Trail of ice up yonder, 

And up there I'll always stay ! 

Hark! the Yukon Trail is calling 

Me back to its frozen Wild, 
Where the snowflakes, thickly falling, 

On the mountain tops are piled. 
To that Trail so long forsaken, 

To that land of ice and snow, 
Where the mountain peaks are shaken 

By the hurricanes that blow, 
I am going. On the mountain 

Once again the heights I'll climb. 
Track the bear beside the fountain. 

In that snowy, frigid clime. 
There the valleys now are dreaming, 

Far the v/olves send up their wail — 
And the lights above are gleaming 

On the frozen Yukon Trail. 



60 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

The Lake at Night 

I stood at night by Lake Lavada, where 
The waves in music play upon the depths, 
And watched the glowing moon in splendor rise 
Above the summer hills. The golden light 
Across the lovely lake in radiance fell; 
The whippoorwill's high chanting rose upon 
The balmy air in vesper notes ; the breeze 
Was whispering low among the silent trees 
A mystic hymn. In silence deep I stood 
And thought upon those holy, nameless things 
That fill Man's heart with wonder, love and 

awe, — 
That come upon the soul with fear and hope, 
When Meditation leads into the paths 
Of wisdom. Long, in thoughtful mood, beneath 
The lonely trees, as Night's majestic fire 
Stole o'er the shadows of still solitude, 
I stood, my mind engaged in reasoning on 
The fate of Time, the Past, and of the Soul. 
And while I pondered thus, a Voice arose 
Afar in music, like the floating of 
The evening winds into a harp of fine. 
Celestial, golden strings, across the blue 
Ethereal heavens hung. In melody 
That seemed to drift from angel bands above, 
The Voice, at first in distant tones, arose 
From far away ; then nearer came, until 
It woke the slumbering earth, and reached 
The twinkling sky, then filled the misty space 
With liquid notes of harmony. And then 
The Voice, directly o'er me now, said to 
My trembling soul: — 

"Immortal Soul, that's bom 
To never die! what seekest thou upon 
This glorious night ? The happiness serene 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 61 

That fills the sky with holy light and thrills 
The heart of Nature? That love so strong, 
By which the beings, Truth and Beauty, shall 
Forever live ? Or wouldst thou fathom deep 
The infinite and mystic depths of Mystery, 
And learn the secret which will never stir 
The surface of the stream of Time; why all 
Things are ; the great divine Purpose of those 
Eternal Laws; the hope of Life, and fear 
Of that dark time, called Death ; the Destiny 
That 'waits thee in the still Beyond ? 

"0 hark, 
Thou restless soul! In ages far and gone. 
Have sages reached the dazzling hall of 

Fame — 
The happy bards have sung their tuneful 

songs 
Which echoed in the heart of listening Man — 
Monarchs have reared despotic thrones and 

held 
The sword of power o'er trembling slaves — 

the fools 
Have striven through their weary lives to 

make 
Their riches greater still. And, yet, the hall, 
Which Knowledge lighted as the solemn sage 
Profoundly entered at the door Renown, 
Is silent, dark, and cold — the sleeping bard's 
Impassioned strain has died upon the faint 
And fleeting breezes of the past — the king 
Has heard the heeded call to join the throng 
That lie beneath the sad inglorious tomb — 
The wealth the miser loved and guarded long 
Is his no more. 

"0 Soul, to higher things 
Yet lift thine eyes ; behold the wondrous work 



62 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Of God, and see His glory and His love, 

Which give to Nature all her serenity. 

And thou shalt hear her low, harmonious 

songs 
And see her beauty sweet and grace divine : — 
The towering mountains rise to lofty heights 
In rugged sublimation, to watch the sun 
With glory light the dewy path of Mom; 
To see despairing Day retreat into 
The west, as jealous Night in triumph sets 
Her starry banner o'er the field she takes. 
The sloping plain and thirsty desert hold 
Upon their wide and solitary domain 
A mystic atmosphere of solemn worship. 
Tlirough valleys and between high mountains 

far, 
With majesty, the rolling rivers sweep 
By rocky shores that hear the music of 
The dashing waves. Down gentle hills, into 
Green vales below, clear streamlets murmur 

songs 
In low, complaining tones ; then steal across 
Broad meadows, gay with flowers, where they 

glide 
Away beneath the sunny skies. Remote, 
Where solitude commands the list'ning air, 
Transparent lies the silent lake; above. 
The starry lights look down at night to see 
Their beauty in the waveless mirror far 
Below ; the moon arises to behold 
Her silvery smile within the crystal depths; 
And lonely trees, that guard the sleeping 

shore, 
With reverence greet the gentle, passing 

breeze. 
In sacred atmosphere, far stands the deep 
And solemn forest, that ancient temple where 
The joyful birds forever sing of His 



A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 63 

Great wisdom. Mystic breezes lightly steal 
Beneath the arches green and up the long 
And winding aisles, to carry upward to 
The King of all the consecrated hymns 
Of love and peace and worship true. In 

strength 
Untamed, in restless pride, forever rolls 
The blue, unfathomed Ocean in its deep, 
Musical roar, beneath the smile of Mom, 
The evening sun, and stars of silent Night." 

The Voice then ceased ; the music drifted slow 
Away ; and Silence seemed to faintly wrap 
The Universe in misty shrouds of love 
And peace. And then once more the waves' 

low dash 
Came softly from the lake ; the birds of night 
Sent up their carols sweet ; and winds again, 
In gentle sighs, stole o'er the lonely lake. 
The moonlight gave enchantment to the 

night. 
And Truth and Love and Beauty, above the 

lake. 
Conversed with Nature and my wondering 

soul. 



The Desert's Call 

The hot, relentless sun has tread 
Its journey o'er the desert dread; 
The varied colors, changing fast. 
Above the shadows faintly cast 
Their last reflections in the sky, 
And in approaching darkness die; 
While Night, on dark and silent wings. 
Her gloom above creation flings. 



64 A Dream of Dreams and Other Poems 

Now all is silence ; and it seems 

That silence holds a thousand dreams, 

Which, stealing from some mystic sphere, 

Invade the magic of the year. 

Across the desert land away. 

The stars' enchanting beams betray 

A dreamy loveliness that grows 

Defiant in the hidden woes. 

Which haunt the very bird that flies 

Into the danger of those skies; 

Because that thirsty, barren land 

Defies achievement of Man's hand, 

And still the ancient horrors reign 

O'er all that barrier-like domain. 

But yet the stillness and the gloom, 
Suggestive of relentless doom. 
Retain a worship grim and stem. 
By which humanity might learn 
A reverence for the Great Alone, 
And bow before its mighty throne. 

And hark ! from somewhere to the soul 
The sounds of fleeting ages roll ! 
They echo through the desert-night, 
Component of a strange delight : — 
It is the desert's mystic call 
Transcending Time's eternal wall. 
It is the whispering of the Wild 
To share its loneness undefiled ; 
To brave its desolation vast. 
The summer heat, and stormy blast ; 
To challenge danger, conquer death, 
Upon the range of torrid breath. 
A tragic and eternal law 
Holds both the heart and soul in awe ; 
The while the dismal voices fall, 
The desert's own unanswered call! 



A Dream, of Dreams and Other Poems 65 

UEnvoi 

The verses this volume contains, 

These rhymes of a wandering youth, 
Are only the gathered remains 

Of visions of Beauty and Truth; 
Imperfect in measure ami thought 

Though many or all of theyn he, 
Revealing a freedom untaught, 

They whisper of things of the free. 

Poetic and mystical dreams 

Each human beholds ivhen the hand 
Of Mystery points to the streams 

That flow to a dreamy -far Land; 
But feelings of loftier love. 

Emotions of purpose divine. 
Are treasures each values above 

All else on this side of Death's line. 

For Life is a Valley of Tears, 

Eternity's summits around; 
Yet Faith thru the mist of the years 

A glory immortal hath found. 
And Hope in her patience hath seen 

Another Yosemite's spell, 
A splendor of beauty serene 

Surrounding wherever Men dwell. 

^ tF 4f * # ^ ♦ 

And lo! on the pages of Time 

The old Christianity shall be 
A version of meaning sublime, 

A calling to you and to me; 
And, reading those mandates of Life, 

This mission most noble we find : 
Be brave, though unknown in the strife, 

By helping and serving Mankind! 






,,of -' o 



'<p K^'' 



V 



' A^^ 








/\--.,>c/'--' ^n-. 



' .0- 






,•0- 










V o ^ ' • 









->?' 



\- 



N" 






^- "'"^■' >^ ON 



O, 















cP^ 



/" 












V ^ ■- * » A -^ 


















O 









•^A v^^ 

^0^^. 






,-5 



.V 






• .^'= 



%: 






<^ "'TTs^ A^ ^.« '^^^ ^o.x-» <o^ 






\.' » ^ * «, > 






.A 



o^ ,s','^., -'o 



•/•, .si'^ 



^. <.S- 







"^■J- 


v^^ 


^■ 




x° 


°.. 


» 


.0^ 




( 












v>\> 






X-*-' 



:^^ x:^ 

o.-" ''?■ 


•^ 




1 * .o 








C^^ 


.^ ^\.i: 


"b 0^ 


x/^ ""^^ V^^ 


^^ -n. 


/: x^^. 




^. 


1 ' ^N ■> ■ 


, ■> " / ^ 


O^ ' -• • ' 


■% 


/■/ 









:.^' 









•X"^ 

,<^- 



^ .0^ 



^ ^'\-^:^' .^..^v^"- .p^.os., --^ -^"^^ ..... V, 















Qo^ 



:f 



c 







u^". 

(0- 




■^o 


0^ 






^:^ 
1 » 


, ^ 









,^ 



•3 t. 



%^^ 
.^•^^' - 



.0 -O, , 



/' 



d- « ''S e> -A a*' 






\^ -'^. 



^■^ U^ 






^rfCVWA/e '\4' 









■% 








aV <^^ ' 









vOO. 



)^.^\:l'^. 



,^^ -^^^ 














^ 




•*b 


o'^ 


^- 


^■> 


■^ci- 


' 






•*bo^ 



•■>, /- 






Q> '-> 



-. 









